BlackDots

Name: BlackDots
Joined On: Sep 06, 2005
Maintag: Black Dots
Age: 31
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Location: Wilmington, DE
Currently: Offline
Last seen: 11/6/09

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11/19/09

New Topic. Starting...now.

Games. So many games. Actually, recently my time has been consumed by one game, and I think you know what I'm talking about.

DJ Hero.

I kid. Modern Warfare 2 is a demanding mistress. The seemingly endless amount of unlocks demands that I go back and back to earn more XP so that my weapons can meet their full destructive potential. And the Bling perk...it's like in COD4 you were driving a Ferrari wirh only one gear and someone just handed you the full gearbox. What a difference. Anyway, the media blanket that encompassed us all leading up to MW2's release got me thinking about games in general and titles I've really enjoyed in the past. I thought I would reminisce a bit here and see if I can whiddle down to a list of top 10. Let's begin.

Above is the box art for the game that ruled my life for about 2 years. Back in the Dark Ages before the coming of the Great Internet, I had no idea what games were coming out until they arrived at my local Electronics Boutique. Which actually might have been for the best, because had I known about this, I probably would have been a nervous ball of anticipation for the months beforehand.

I can't prove that this game was designed to be a life-consuming time sink, but there is evidence to indicate this is the case. The historical missions were a lot of fun, but the heart of the game was in the Campaign Mode. This mode allowed you to play as either the US or the Germans. When playing as the US, you conduct a campaign of strategic bombing against the Reich. When playing as the Germans, you direct the fighter defense of aforementioned Reich. The ability for a 13 year old to design and then execute a strategic bombing campaign against the most evil regime in history was a pretty compelling experience. Since the campaign played out differently every time, you revisit it over and over and over and over. Combined with an array of great planes, the ability to record your missions, and an extensive manual that appears to have been written by the entire history staff at Harvard, and you have a deep, addictive, flight combat sim that hasn't been replicated since.

Posted by BlackDots @ 5:55 pm EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

08/22/09

Shame

Yes, that's right, shame. Shame on me for not updating this thing in ~~months~~ over a year. I've been bogged down with work, life, etc. Big changes are on the horizon for me and I will be writing about it all. More to come very soon.

You're welcome.

Posted by BlackDots @ 10:45 pm EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

01/27/08

2 to 1

Obama's win last night in South Carolina was an absolute blow out, with him receiving twice the number of votes for Hillary. Despite the expectations of many pundits and cynics, Obama won across all demographic categories. What's even more interesting is that he garnered more votes in the Democratic primary than the combined votes of McCain or Huckabee in the Republican primary. Since these were open primaries, that says something about Obama's ability to carry the South in a general election. This win should really give Obama some momentum going into Super Tuesday, and could help close the gap between he and Clinton in some of the larger states like California and New York. Donations to Obama have already increased significantly since last night.

Below are parts 1 and 2 of his victory speech from last night. I think this is his best yet, and definitely worth a look.

Posted by BlackDots @ 11:07 am EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

01/25/08

I Think Will Ferrell is My Hero

"This just in, GE is bankrupt."

Posted by BlackDots @ 12:24 am EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

01/24/08

Wow, Video Games Have Evolved Over the Past 25 Years!

This whole Mass Effect thing is getting out of hand.

If you haven't seen this video yet, it is worth a look:

Seriously, is this what passes for "expertise"? The person taking the "anti-" stance admitted to NEVER PLAYING THE GAME THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. Not only that, but when Geoff asked if she had played the game, Cooper had to stifle a laugh as she said "No". What I'm sure she was thinking was "Games are for kids. I am an adult with a masters degree from some Long Island diploma mill and am therefore an expert on any question put to me." OK, I might have embellished that last part, but you know I'm right.

The fundamental problem here is not that Mass Effect has a sex scene. It is that non-gamers, specifically non-gaming parents, do not understand that video games have evolved significantly in the 25 years since they played Pac-Man at the boardwalk that one summer. It's not all Pong anymore. Video games have evolved because video game players have evolved. It's not just 5 year old with Pokemon, as I am sure everyone on this website can attest. Adults are the drivers of video games products and, guess what, we demand more sophisticated and involved content, as we would for books, music, or movies.

Movies are the most analogous form of media to video games. The ratings are similar, as is the content. In fact, thinking of games in terms of movies is probably the easiest way for non-gamers to understand the variety of games on the market. Games are not just for children. Some games should not be played by children. Some parents might buy their child an M-rated game out of ignorance because they still think everything plays like Super Mario Bros. and is geared for all ages. Fortunately, there are plenty of websites to educate them. If they choose not to find that information on the Internet, which, as we know makes finding information nearly impossible, then they are lazy. Plain and simple. Apparently being a parent is difficult and time consuming, and might actually require you to be involved with the lives of your children. Shocker.

Posted by BlackDots @ 11:33 pm EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

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